Government Keeps Remote Work Rules Out Of Public Service Collective Agreement

OTTAWA – Striking federal public service employees left the picket lines with a commitment from the government to review remote work policies, but it will not be enshrined in their new collective agreements.

The union and the government reached an agreement with compounded wage increases of 12.6 per cent over four years late Sunday night, settling a dispute with 120,000 federal workers.

The ability to work remotely, a key sticking point throughout negotiations, was not included in the collective agreement, but the two sides agreed through a letter of understanding to address the union’s concerns on the issue.

Currently, the federal government has a hybrid work policy which allows employees to work from home for up to three days a week.

According to a statement from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), remote work requests must now be addressed on an individual basis. Union-employer departmental panels will also provide workers with additional protections when it comes to remote work decisions…Read more!!!

~ Special to National Post